Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1887-12-28
THE NATIONS SCAPITAL.
Important Changes in the Gus
toms Offices Of Maine.
The Democrats Schemiss to Gain Control
Of Kichisan's Vacancy in the House.
Items of Interest to the Public.

WAsHISGToS, Dec. q.
Although scarcely anything has been done
/ by the House thus far, one important reform
has been instituted. Hereafter 500 copiei
are to be printed of bills of public nature
and only l00 copies of bills of a private ma
! ture- This will put stop to an abuse OF
large dimensions. Heretofore 1900 copie,
of all bills have been printed and most OF
them have gone 10 the iunkman.
| A bill was introduced into the House or
the firstbil day, modifying the present vex-
atious law regarding permissible writing and
/ printing on mail matter. Ii is proposed to
| open the gates to printing on the wrappers
of second, third and fourth class matter and
practically legalze the practice which had
/ grown up before the issue of the new regu-
lations in September last
! w. W. Corcoron, an aged millionaire and
| philanthropist celebrated his s9th birthday
today. His mind is perfectly clear and he is
! in fairly good ply steal health, though some
| what weak in the legs from the effects of a
paralytic stroke last summer. Congratula.
tons we're poured in by telegraph AMI mail.
| Many friends sent flowers and other tokens
of esteem. Those from the institutions for
the needy were especially priced by the re-
cipient. Many persons called during the
day to pay their respects to Mr.. Corcoran,
but he saw only few more intimate friends
until afternoon, when he held reception
for an hour or more.
The democrats see in the death of Con-
gresham Mofiei another opportunity to gain
control Of the State delegation in the House
of Representatives SO that they may elect
their president in the event that the election
should be thrown into the House The va
cancy in the Michigan district and the con-
test which they have just planned with the
intention of unseating Arnold, the republican
from the second Rhode Island district, are
the two points upon which the democrats re-
ly to carry out this conspiracy to capture the
delegations in the House of Representatives.
which they lost at the last congressional cleo
ton, so that it is among the possibilities that
the death of Representative Moffet may have
direct bearing upon the Presidential contest
of next year.
Telegrams and letters received here show
that the reduction of forces in the custom
houses has caused quite commotion.
In Maine the changes in nine parts are
fully marked out At Belfast five offices
are discontinued. The two established are
a deputy collectorship at 80 per day, and
an inspectorship at 81. In Castinc the Office
will have three instead of five inspectors,
one at SO 20, and two at 81 per day each.
At Ellsw orth there are three instead of five
nspectorships at 5000, 500 and $500 year
each At Houlton one place is cVt off, the
new force being re-established with one at
So day and five at $3.50. S3 day
deputy collectorship at Machias is abolished {;
at Saco a 800 a year deputy office; at
Waldoboro three men go, there being left
two deputies at SS day and one at Sl.65 :;
at Wiscasset deputy goes; at York there Is
no change.
At Portland the Office is established with
one clerk at $1,000. two inspectors at So a
day, two weighers $1,000 each, one laborer
at 500; all inspectors hereafter are to have
50 instead of So 80, and in winter the limit
for temporary service is seven men at 50 90
day, instead of ten at So, as heretofore.
General Horatio King, well known son OF
Maine, and ex-Postmaster General OF the
United States. is in town. His presence
here revives the gossip connecting his name
with the Judge advocate generalsliip of the
army 1t is understood that Mr.. King wants
the place and that the President is willing tC
give it to him. but does not know how to dis
pose of General Swain. King is now resi-
dent of New York, and was a member of the
Presidents staff when he was governor OF
New York.